The 34-year-old earned his first England call-up under manager Roy Hodgson for the World Cup qualifiers with San Marino and Montenegro later this month.

It was suggested that he could yet turn down the chance to represent his country again for the first time since June 2011, either in response to previous omissions by Hodgson or to appease Ferguson and prolong his club career.

However, speaking after United's 1-0 win over Reading, Ferguson responded with a brief "yes" when asked if Ferdinand would join up with England.

Ferdinand was key in United's win over Reading that stretched their lead in the title race to 15 points over City, the defender's surging run teeing up Wayne Rooney to score the only goal of the game.

"Rio has always had that ability to break forward into midfield with his ability on the ball," said Ferguson.

"Obviously he doesn't do it as often as he used to but he did it today and it got us the goal."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.